Residential dry sprinkler design method and system

ABSTRACT

A method of designing a residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit are shown and described. The residential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, 13R. The method can be achieved by: determining a minimum quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers required to determine a hydraulic demand calculation of the residential fire sprinklers of a piping network filled with water and arranged to protect the plurality of compartments; and specifying the minimum quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers in a piping network filled with a gas. Various aspects of the invention are also shown and described.

PRIORITY DATA AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/874,758, filedJun. 24, 2004, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An automatic sprinkler system is one of the most widely used devices forfire protection. These systems have sprinklers that are activated oncethe ambient temperature in an environment, such as a room or a building,exceeds a predetermined value. Once activated, the sprinklers distributefire-extinguishing fluid, preferably water, in the room or building. Asprinkler system, depending on its specified configuration is consideredeffective if it controls or suppresses a fire. Failures of such systemsmay occur when the system has been rendered inoperative during buildingalteration or disuse, or the occupancy hazard has been increased beyondinitial system capability.

The sprinkler system can be provided with a water supply (e.g., areservoir or a municipal water supply). Such supply may be separate fromthat used by a fire department. Regardless of the type of supply, thesprinkler system is provided with a main that enters the building tosupply a riser. Connected at the riser are valves, meters, and,preferably, an alarm to sound when water flow within the system exceedsa predetermined minimum. At the top of a vertical riser, a horizontallydisposed array of pipes extends throughout the fire compartment in thebuilding. Other risers may feed distribution networks to systems inadjacent fire compartments. Compartmentalization can divide a largebuilding horizontally, on a single floor, and vertically, floor tofloor. Thus, several sprinkler systems may serve one building.

In a piping distribution network, branch lines carry the sprinklers. Asprinkler may extend up a branch line, placing the sprinkler relativelyclose to the ceiling, or a sprinkler can be pendent below the branchline. For use with concealed piping, a flush-mounted pendant sprinklermay extend only slightly below the ceiling.

The sprinkler system can be provided in various configurations. In awet-pipe system, used for example, in buildings having heated spaces forpiping branch lines, all the system pipes contain a fire-fighting fluid,such as, water for immediate release through any sprinkler that isactivated. In a dry-pipe system, used for example, in unheated openareas, cold rooms, passageways, or other areas exposed to freezing, suchas unheated buildings in freezing climates or for cold-storage rooms,the pipes, risers, and feed mains, disposed, branch lines and otherdistribution pipes of the fire protection system may contain a dry gas(air or nitrogen or mixtures thereof) under pressure. A valve is used toseparate the pipes that contain a dry gas and pipes that contain afire-fighting fluid, such as, water. In some applications, the pressureof gas holds closed a dry pipe valve at the riser. When heat from a fireactivates a sprinkler, the gas escapes and the dry-pipe valve trips;water enters branch lines; and fire fighting begins as the sprinklerdistributes the water. By its nature, a dry sprinkler system is slowerto respond to fire conditions than a wet system because the dry gas mustfirst be exhausted from the system before the fire-fighting fluid isexpelled from the fire sprinkler. Such delay creates a “water deliverytime” to the sprinkler. The water delivery time introduces an additionalvariable for consideration in a design for fire protection with a drypipe system.

Various standards exist for the design and installation of a fireprotection system. In particular, the National Fire ProtectionAssociation (“NFPA”) describes, in its Standard for the Installation ofSprinkler Systems 13 (2002) (“the NFPA Standard 13”) various designconsideration and installation parameters for a fire protection system,which standard is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Oneof many design considerations provided by NFPA Standard 13 is the numberof fire sprinklers to be used in a fire protection system. For a wetsystem, the NFPA Standard 13 describes at A. 14.4.4 that a quantity offire sprinklers can be determined either by a design area calculation orby a specified minimum number of sprinklers.

NFPA Standard 13 also addresses certain design considerations for drypipe fire protection systems by modifying the design of the wet pipesystem. For example, in a dry pipe system, NFPA Standard 13 states, forcommercial storage (NFPA Standard 13, 12.1.6.1) and dry pipe systemgenerally (NFPA Standard 13, 14.4.4.4.2), that a design area for a drypipe system is to be increased 30% over the design area for the wetsystem in such applications so that the quantity of fire sprinklers fora dry pipe system is increased by generally 30% over the same quantityof fire sprinklers in a wet system. Where Large-Drop Sprinklers areutilized in commercial fire protection, NFPA shows (at Table 12.3.2.2.1(b) and 12.3.4.2.1) that an increased in the specified number ofsprinklers is 50% or more) is required when a dry pipe system isutilized instead of a wet pipe for these sprinklers. When a commercialfire sprinkler is used with a dry pipe instead of a wet pipe system indwelling applications, the design area must be increased by 30% so thatthe number of these sprinklers must be increased, and thus, thehydraulic demand is increased. It is apparent NFPA Standard 13 that,holding all other design parameters constant, the use of a dry pipesystem instead of a wet pipe system would require a relatively largeincrease in the number of fire sprinklers, which would increase thehydraulic demand of the dry pipe system.

Although NFPA Standard 13 refers in broad terms to wet pipe and dry pipesystems, NFPA Standard 13 is generally silent as to design andinstallation criteria for dry pipe residential sprinkler systems. Forexample, NFPA Standard 13 fails to specify any criteria in a design of adry pipe residential fire sprinkler system, including a hydraulic demandcalculation, the quantity of residential fire sprinklers consonant withthe hydraulic demand calculation or installation constraints and use ofresidential fire sprinklers in a dry pipe fire protection system. Infact, NFPA Standard 13 (2002) specifically prohibits residential firesprinklers from being used in any system other than wet unless theresidential fire sprinklers are listed for such other applications, asstated in NFPA Standard 13 at 8.4.5.2:[R]esidential sprinklers shall be used only in wet systems unlessspecifically listed for use in dry pipe systems or preaction systems.(Emphasis Added).

NFPA provides separate standards for design and installation of wet pipefire protection system in residential occupancies. Starting in 1975,NFPA provides the Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems inOne-And Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes (“NFPA Standard13D”). Due in part to the increasingly urbanized nature of cities, NFPApromulgated, in 1989, another standard in recognition of low-riseresidential facilities, entitled Standard for the Installation ofSprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies Up to And Including FourStories in Height 13R (“NFPA Standard 13R”). The latest respectiveeditions of NFPA Standard 13D and 13R are the 2002 Edition of NFPAStandard 13 and which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety. Starting in 1988, Underwriters Laboratory (“UL”) provides foradditional requirements that residential fire sprinklers must meet forresidential fire protection systems as set forth in its UnderwriterLaboratory Residential fire sprinklers for Fire-Protection Service 1626(“UL Standard 1626”). The most recent edition of UL Standard 1626 is theOctober 2003 edition, which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

NFPA and UL provide similar water density requirement for residentialfire protection systems. NFPA Standard 13 (2002) states (Chap11.2.3.5.2) that a density for a protection area of a residentialoccupancy with a generally flat ceiling as the greater of (a) 0.1gallons per minute per square feet of the four most hydraulicallydemanding sprinkler over a design area or (b) a listed residentialminimum density. The listed residential minimum density can be found ineither NFPA Standard 13D or 13R (2020). NFPA Standard 13D (2002) states(Chapter 8.1.1.2.2 and 8.1.2) that fire sprinklers listed forresidential use shall have minimum discharge density of 0.05 gallons perminute per square feet to the design sprinklers, where the number ofdesign sprinklers includes all of the sprinklers, up to a maximum oftwo, that requires the greatest hydraulic demand, within a compartmentthat has generally flat and smooth ceiling. NFPA Standard 13R (2002)states (Chapter 6.7.1.1.2.2. and 6.7.1.2) that fire sprinklers listedfor residential use shall have minimum discharge density of 0.05 gallonsper minute per square feet to the design sprinklers, where the number ofdesign sprinklers includes all of the sprinklers, up to a maximum offour, that requires the greatest hydraulic demand, within a compartmentthat has generally flat and smooth ceiling. UL Standard 1626 (October2003), on the other hand, states (at Table 6.1) that the density for acoverage area with a generally flat ceiling as 0.05 gallons per minuteper square feet minimum.

Although NFPA Standards 13R and 13D provide considerable flexibility inthe design and installation of wet pipe residential fire protectionsystem, these standards are strict in prohibiting any existingresidential fire sprinklers that are approved for use in a wet piperesidential system from being used in any application other than a wetsystem. In particular, both NFPA Standard 13R and 13D (2002) reiteratethe structure stated in NFPA Standard 13 which prohibits the use ofresidential sprinklers for systems other than wet pipe by stating, atparagraphs 6.6.7.1.2 and 7.5.2, respectively, that:[R]esidential sprinklers shall not be used on systems other than wetpipe systems unless specifically listed for use on that particular typeof system. (Emphasis Added).

While these standards may have considered a residential piping systemother than a wet pipe system, a dry pipe residential system, thestandards do not provide any indication of how to determine a hydraulicdemand as part of a design of such systems. Furthermore, because of theguidelines in the standards regarding the use of dry pipe instead of wetpipe, those desiring to use a dry pipe sprinkler system innon-residential applications would normally increase the hydraulicdemand of the dry pipe system over that of the wet pipe system, eitherby an increase in the design area or the number of sprinklers based onthe wet pipe system. Currently, it is believed that no residential firesprinkler is approved for a dry pipe system in residential applications.Thus, design methodologies and installation requirements forapplications other than wet pipe fire sprinkler systems in residentialapplications are believed to be notably lacking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, in one aspect, a method of designing adry pipe residential fire protection system in a residential dwellingunit. The residential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments asdefined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association Standards and13R. The method can be achieved by determining a minimum quantity andlocation of residential fire sprinklers required to determine ahydraulic demand calculation of the residential fire sprinklers of apiping network filled with water and arranged to protect the pluralityof compartments. Specifying that the minimum quantity and location ofresidential fire sprinklers, as determined for a wet piping network, isused to determine the hydraulic demand of in a piping network filledwith a gas and arranged to protect the plurality of compartments of theresidential dwelling unit.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a fire protection systemresidential dwelling unit fire protection system is provided. Theresidential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments as defined inthe 2002 National Fire Protection Association Standard 13D. The systemincludes a supply of pressurized fluid, a network of pipes, a quantityof residential fire sprinklers. The supply of pressurized fluid islocated proximate the dwelling unit. The network of pipes is in fluidcommunication with the fluid supply, and the network of pipes includesat least one pipe extending over each of the compartments. The at leastone pipe is filled generally with a gas so that the at least one pipe isdry. The quantity of residential fire sprinklers is located adjacenteach of the compartments, and each of the quantity of residential firesprinklers is coupled to the at least one pipe filled with a gas sothat, upon actuation of at least one fire sprinkler of the quantity ofresidential fire sprinklers, fluid is delivered from fluid supply to thecompartments within a first time period. And, the quantity ofresidential fire sprinkler is based on a calculated hydraulic demand forall residential fire sprinklers, up to two sprinklers, having thehighest calculated demand within a compartment.

In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a fire protectionsystem residential dwelling unit fire protection system is provided. Theresidential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments as defined inthe 2002 National Fire Protection Association Standards 13 and 13R. Thesystem includes a supply of pressurized fluid, a network of pipes, aquantity of residential fire sprinklers. The system includes a supply ofpressurized fluid, a network of pipes, a quantity of residential firesprinklers. The supply of pressurized fluid is located proximate thedwelling unit. The network of pipes is in fluid communication with thefluid supply, and the network of pipes includes at least one pipeextending over each of the compartments. The at least one pipe is filledgenerally with a gas so that the at least one pipe is dry. The quantityof residential fire sprinklers is located adjacent each of thecompartments, and each of the quantity of residential fire sprinklers iscoupled to the at least one pipe filled with a gas so that, uponactuation of at least one fire sprinkler of the quantity of residentialfire sprinklers, fluid is delivered from fluid supply to thecompartments within a first time period. And, the quantity ofresidential fire sprinkler is based on a calculated hydraulic demand forall residential fire sprinklers, up to four sprinklers, having thehighest calculated demand within a compartment.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of communicating fireprotection information for a residential dwelling unit as defined in the2002 National Fire Protection Association Standards 13, and 13R isprovided. The method includes identifying residential fire protectioninformation and directing a user to design a residential fire protectionsystem with the information. The identification includes: at least onetype of fire sprinkler for each of the plurality of protected areasincluding a rated K-factor for the fire sprinkler; a plurality of areasto be protected in the dwelling unit, each of the plurality of designprotection areas having a dimension of X by Y, wherein X is any valuefrom 10 feet to 20 feet and Y is any value from 10 feet to 24 feet; anda plurality of minimum flow rates and residual pressures for arespective plurality of areas. The information is applicable to both wetand dry pipe residential fire sprinkler networks so that a user isdirected to a design a residential fire protection system with the samenumber of the at least one fire sprinkler in one of wet or dry pipesystem in a dwelling unit based on the identification of fire protection

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and, together with the general description given above andthe detailed description given below, serve to explain the features ofthe invention.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a residential sprinkler system withvertically-oriented and horizontally-oriented sprinklers according to apreferred embodiment.

FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate respectively a pendent and sidewallsprinklers of FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a preferred communication medium for thepreferred wet or dry sprinkler design methodology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate the preferred embodiments. In particular FIG. 1Ashows a residential dwelling unit R. As used herein, the term“residential” is a “dwelling unit” as defined in NFPA Standard 13D, 13R(2002), which can include commercial dwelling units rental apartments,lodging and rooming houses, board and care facilities, hospitals, motelsor hotels) to indicate one or more rooms, arranged for the use ofindividuals living together, as in a single housekeeping unit, thatnormally have cooking, living, sanitary, and sleeping facilities. Theresidential dwelling unit normally includes a plurality of compartmentsas defined in NFPA Standards 13, 13D, and 13R, where generally eachcompartment is a space that is enclosed by walls and ceiling. Thestandards relating to residential fire protection, including 2002Standards 13, 13D, and 13R, as promulgated by the National FireProtection Association (“NFPA Standard 13 (2002), “NFPA Standard 13D(2002)”, “NFPA Standard 13R (2002)”) and Underwriter LaboratoryResidential fire sprinklers for Fire-Protection Service 1626 (October2003) (“UL Standard 1626 (October 2003)”) are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

In the residential dwelling unit R of FIG. 1A, an exemplary dry fireprotection system can be provided for a plurality of protection areas,including sub-divided protection areas, compartments to be protectedwithin the residential unit R. For example, in protection area A withlength L and width W, a dry fire protection system can include a supply10 of pressurized fluid such as a suitable fluid supply 10, locatedproximate the dwelling unit R. A network of pipes 100 is coupled to thefluid supply 10 by preferably a single control valve 20 that can be usedto shut off fluid to both a domestic water system for the occupants viapipe 14 and for the fire protection system via pipe 18 for theresidential dwelling unit R. A back-flow check valve 13 can be providedupstream of the control valve 20 so as to prevent contamination of thewater supply. The control valve 20 can be connected to a suitable drypipe valve 30 (or other control valves) disposed between the controlvalve 20 and the piping network. A test and drain line 16 can beprovided downstream of the control valve 20.

The fluid supply 10 can include a municipal water supply, an elevatedfluid or pressurized-fluid tank, or a water storage with a water pump,which can provide a demand for a fire protection system for a suitableperiod, such as, for example, 10 to 30 minutes without any provisionsthat would prevent the use of domestic water flow by the occupants.Where a water system is designed to serve both the needs of theoccupants of the dwelling unit and the fire protection system, the watersystem should: (1) account for water demand of more than five gallonsper minute to multiple dwelling units when no provision is made toprevent the flow of the domestic water supply upon actuation of theresidential fire sprinkler system; (2) include smoke or fire detector;(3) include listed or approved piping for the sprinkler system; (4)approved or permitted by local governmental authority; (5) includewarning that a residential fire sprinkler system is connected to thedomestic system; and (6) not add flow restriction device such as waterfilter to the system.

The network of pipes can include a riser 18 coupled to a main pipe 22.The main pipe 22 can be coupled to a plurality of branch pipes 22a, 22b,22c, 22d, 22e . . . 22n extending over each of the sub-divided areas.The main pipe 22 and branch pipes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e . . . 22n canbe filled generally with a suitable gas (e.g., air or nitrogen ormixtures thereof) so that the pipes are “dry.” A pressure gauge 24 canbe installed in the piping network 100 to provide an indication of thesystem pressure. The branch 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e . . . 22n arecoupled to a quantity of residential fire sprinklers 40A, 40B, 40Clocated adjacent each of the sub-divided areas.

Depending on the system design, the residential fire sprinklers can bevertically-oriented type fire residential fire sprinklers that areapproved for dry residential applications. The vertically oriented typeresidential sprinklers can include, for example, pendent sprinkler 40A,upright sprinkler 40B, flush, or concealed pendent residential firesprinklers. The residential fire sprinklers can be horizontally-orientedresidential fire sprinklers that are approved for dry residentialapplications. The horizontally-oriented type residential fire sprinklerscan include for example, sidewall sprinkler 40C, flush or concealedsidewall residential fire sprinklers.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the pendent type residential fire sprinkler 40A ofthe dry pipe network of FIG. 1A is shown in further detail. Inparticular, the sprinkler 40A includes a body 42A defining a passageway42B between an inlet opening 42C and an outlet opening 42D along alongitudinal axis A-A oriented generally perpendicular to the protectionarea A. The body 42A is coupled to a dry pipe system so that thepassageway 42B is filled with a dry gas or air. The passageway 42B has arated K-factor, where the rated K-factor equals the flow of water ingallons per minute through the passageway divided by the square root ofthe pressure of water fed to the body in pounds per square inch gauge(GPM/(psig)^(1/2)). The rated K-factor can include, but is not limitedto, any one of nominally 3.0, 3.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.9, 5.5, or5.6 K-factor. The body 42A has at least one frame arm 42E coupled to thebody 42A proximate the outlet opening 42D. A closure 42F can bepositioned proximate the outlet opening 42D so as to occlude thepassageway 42B. A heat responsive trigger 42G can be provided to retainthe closure 42F so as to close the passageway. A deflector 42H can becoupled with the body through at least one frame arm 42E and nosepiece42I so that the deflector 42H is spaced from and generally aligned withthe outlet opening and the longitudinal axis A-A. The uprightresidential sprinkler 40B can include many similar components as theresidential pendent sprinkler 40A and therefore has not been describedto maintain brevity in this description. When the heat responsivetrigger 42G is actuated, the closure 42F is positioned to allow the drygas to be expelled from the dry pipes and the passageway 42B and for aflow of water to fill the previously-dry pipes and issue from the outletopening 42D along axis A-A. The flow of water through the body 42A caninclude various flow rates, such as, for example, about 13, 16, 17, 19,21, or 24 gallons per minute. The flow of water or a fire-fighting fluidthrough the dry pipe system is distributed over the protection area bythe deflector so that the sprinkler by itself, or in conjunction withother sprinklers, protects the area of the residential dwelling unit.

Referring to FIG. 1C, the sidewall residential sprinkler 40C of the drypipe system of FIG. 1A is shown in further detail. In particular, thesprinkler 40C includes a body 44A defining a passageway 44B between aninlet opening 44C and an outlet opening 44D along a horizontal axis B-Boriented generally parallel to the protection area A. The passageway 44Bhas a rated K-factor, where the rated K-factor equals the flow of waterin gallons per minute through the passageway divided by the square rootof the pressure of water fed to the body in pounds per square inch gauge(GPM/(psig)^(1/2)). The rated K-factor can include, but is not limitedto, any one of nominally 4 or 5 K-factor. The body 44A has at least oneframe arm 44E coupled to the body 44A proximate the outlet opening 44D.A closure 44F can be positioned proximate the outlet opening 44D so asto occlude the passageway 44B. A heat responsive trigger 44G can beprovided to retain the closure 44F so as to close the passageway. Adeflector 44H can be coupled with the body through at least one framearm 44E and nosepiece 44I so that the deflector 44H is spaced from andgenerally aligned with the outlet opening and the longitudinal axis A-A.When the heat responsive trigger 44G is actuated, the closure 44F ispositioned to allow the dry gas to be expelled from the dry pipes andthe passageway 44B and for a flow of water to fill the previously-drypipes and issue from the outlet opening 44D along axis B-B. The flow ofwater through the body 44A can include various flow rates, such as, forexample, about 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 or28 gallons per minute. The flow of water or a fighting fluid through thedry pipe system is distributed over the protection area by the deflectorso that the sprinkler by itself, or in conjunction with othersprinklers, protects the area of the residential dwelling unit. Thus,the means for distributing the fire-fighting fluid over a protectionarea of a residential dwelling unit can be any particular structures ofthe residential sidewall sprinkler 40B, which in the preferredembodiments include at least the deflector 44H.

Although no residential fire sprinklers have been approved forresidential use with a piping network filled with a gas (i.e., “dry”)instead of a network filled with fluid (i.e., “wet”), applicant hasdiscovered that residential fire sprinklers, which were approved for useonly in wet pipe residential fire protection system, would meet theapproval requirements of NFPA Standard 13 (2002), 13D (2002) and 13R(2002) and UL Standard 1626 (October 2003). This discovery has allowed aresidential fire sprinkler system with a dry pipe network to be designedby determining a minimum quantity and location of residential firesprinklers required to determine a hydraulic demand calculation of theresidential fire sprinklers. Applicant has discovered for certainapplications in accordance with NFPA 13, 13D, and 13R, the minimumquantity and location of residential fire sprinklers in a piping networkfilled with a fire-fighting fluid can be used to determine a hydraulicdemand of residential fire sprinklers coupled to a piping network filledwith a gas.

In particular, referring to FIG. 1A, the quantity and location ofresidential fire sprinklers for a residential dwelling unit can bedetermined based on a hydraulic demand of the most hydraulically remotefire sprinkler within a compartment of the residential dwelling unit.Where the residential dwelling unit can be classified as a one ortwo-family dwelling unit, as defined in NFPA Standard 13D (2002), thehydraulic demand of a system for the dwelling unit can be determined byassessing a hydraulic demand of a residential fire sprinkler, up to twosprinklers, for a design area of each compartment while taking intoaccount any obstructions on the walls or ceiling. Specifically, for eachcompartment, one or more residential fire sprinklers (as approved by anauthority having jurisdiction over fire protection design to providesufficient fluid density) can be selected. The selected residential firesprinklers, i.e., design sprinkler, in the selected compartment can beused to determine if the design sprinklers, up to two sprinklers,located at specified locations within any one of selected compartments,have the highest hydraulic demand of a wet pipe fire protection systemfor the residential dwelling unit. For each compartment, the hydraulicdemand is calculated based on the location of the design sprinklers fromthe fluid supply source to the wet pipe network for, in some cases, allof the compartments. From the calculated hydraulic demand of some or allthe compartments, the highest hydraulic demand for a particularcompartment of the residential dwelling unit can be determined. Thishighest hydraulic demand is then compared with an actual fluid flow rateand pressure of the fluid supply. Where the highest hydraulic demand canbe met by the actual fluid supply for the residential dwelling unit, thenumber of fire sprinklers is the sum of all the design sprinklers withinthe residential dwelling unit in the design of a dry pipe residentialfire protection system of the dwelling unit. Thereafter, the design canbe implemented, at a minimum, in accordance with installation guidelinesset forth in NFPA Standard 13D (2002).

Where the residential dwelling unit can be classified as a residentialdwelling unit up to and including four stories in height, as defined inNFPA Standard 13R (2002), the hydraulic demand of a system for thedwelling unit can be determined by assessing a hydraulic demand of aresidential fire sprinkler, up to two sprinklers, for a design area ofeach compartment while taking into account any obstructions on the wallsor ceiling. Specifically, for each compartment, one or more residentialfire sprinklers (as approved by an authority having jurisdiction overfire protection design to provide sufficient fluid density) can beselected. The selected residential fire sprinklers, i.e., designsprinkler, in the selected compartment can be used to determine if thedesign sprinklers, up to four sprinklers, located at specified locationswithin any one of selected compartments, have the highest hydraulicdemand of the fire protection system for the residential dwelling unit.For each compartment, the hydraulic demand is calculated based on thelocation of the design sprinklers from the fluid supply source to thewet pipe network for, in some cases, all of the compartments. From thecalculated hydraulic demand of some or all the compartments, the highesthydraulic demand for a particular compartment of the residentialdwelling unit can be determined. This highest hydraulic demand is thencompared with an actual fluid flow rate and pressure of the fluidsupply. Where the highest hydraulic demand of the residential dwellingunit can be met by the actual fluid supply for the residential dwellingunit, the number of fire sprinklers is the sum of all the designsprinklers within the residential dwelling unit in the design of a drypipe residential fire protection system of the dwelling unit.Thereafter, the design can be implemented in accordance, at a minimum,with installation guidelines set forth in NFPA Standard 13R (2002).

Applicant has verified that the hydraulic demand design criteria of awet pipe residential fire sprinkler system are applicable to a dry pipesystem by tests based on guidelines set forth by NFPA Standards 13, 13D,13R (2002) and UL Standard 1626 (October 2003). Based on testing inaccordance with these guidelines, it has been discovered thatresidential fire sprinklers can deliver the required density set forthby NFPA Standards 13, 13D, 13R (2002 Eds.) and UL Standard 1626 (October2003) within the maximum water delivery time of 15 seconds to theMost-Hydraulically-Remote fire sprinkler, as set forth in NFPA Standard13 (2002), Table 11.2.3.9.1, at the required density of 0.05 gpm/sq, ft.in a dry pipe system while meeting the testing requirements of ULStandard 1626 (October 2003).

In particular, each of the plurality of residential fire sprinklersincludes a pendent type fire sprinkler having a rated K-factor of atleast nominally 4, as shown and described in Tyco Fire Product DatasheetSeries II Residential Pendent Sprinklers 4.9 K-factor (April 2004) andidentified by Sprinkler Identification Number TY2234, which datasheet isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety; a sidewall sprinklerhaving a rated K-factor of at least nominally 4, as shown and describedin Tyco Fire Product Datasheet TFP410 Series II LFII ResidentialHorizontal Sidewall Sprinklers 4.2 K-factor (April 2004) and identifiedby Sprinkler Identification Number TY 1334, which datasheet isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety; and a flush-pendentsprinkler having a rated K-factor of at least nominally 4, as shown anddescribed in Tyco Fire Product Datasheet Series II LFII ResidentialFlush Pendent Sprinklers 4.2 K-factor (April 2004), and identified bySprinkler Identification Number TY2284, which datasheet is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. And as used herein, the term“nominally” or “nominal” indicates ±10% in variations from the valuesindicated.

Applicant has verified his discovery of residential fire sprinklers foruse in residential dry pipe system applications with tests that werepreviously used for wet systems. For example, the identified pendentsprinklers TY1334, TY2234, and TY2284 have complied with requirementsfor a wet system as set forth by NFPA Standards 13, 13D, 13R (2002 Eds.)and UL Standard 1626 (October 2003) for various ceiling configurationsincluding flat, sloped and beamed ceilings. A brief description of thetest procedures that were used to verify their discovery is providedbelow.

For test configurations to determine the horizontal water distributionof existing vertically oriented residential sprinkler (e.g., upright orpendent) and horizontally oriented residential fire sprinklers (e.g.,sidewall), UL Standard 1626 (October 2003) requires placing a selectedsprinkler over a protective area sub-divided into four quadrants withthe sprinkler placed in the center of the quadrants. Water collectionpans are placed over one quadrant of the protective area so that eachsquare foot of the quadrant is covered by collector pan of one-squarefoot area. For vertically oriented type sprinklers, the top of thecollector pan is 8 feet below a generally flat ceiling of the test area.For horizontally oriented type sprinkler, the top of each collection panis about six feet ten inches below the ceiling. The area is generallythe product of a coverage width and length. The length L of the quadrantis generally the one-half the coverage length and the width W isgenerally one-half the coverage width. Water is supplied to the selectedsprinkler at the flow rate specified in the installation instructionprovided with the sprinkler being tested via a one-inch internaldiameter pipe with a T-fitting having an outlet at substantially thesame internal diameter as the inlet of the selected sprinkler. Theduration of the test is twenty-minutes and at the completion of thetest, the water collected by the pan is measured to determine if theamount deposited complies with the minimum density requirement.Additional details of this test are shown and described in UL Standard1626 (October 2003), which is incorporated herein by reference.

For test configurations to determine vertical water distribution ofother existing vertically oriented residential sprinkler (e.g., uprightor pendent) and horizontally oriented residential fire sprinklers (e.g.,sidewall) UL Standard 1626 (October 2003) provides for two arrangements.In the first arrangement for vertically oriented sprinkler, thesprinkler is placed at one-half the coverage length or width. In thesecond arrangement for horizontally-oriented sprinkler, the sprinkler isplaced below the generally flat ceiling but no lower than twenty-eightinches below the ceiling on one wall surface and at no greater thanone-half the distance of an uninterrupted surface of a wall. Water isdelivered to the sprinkler at the flow rate specified in theinstallation instruction provided with the sprinkler being tested via aone-inch internal diameter pipe. Water collection pans of one-squarefoot area are placed on the floor against the walls of the test area sothat the top of the pan is six feet, ten inches below a nominally eightfeet generally flat ceiling. The duration of the test is ten-minutes atwhich point the walls within the coverage area should be wetted towithin 28 inches of the sprinkler at the specified design flow rate.Where the coverage area is square, each wall must be wetted with atleast five percent of the sprinkler flow. Where the coverage area isrectangular, each wall must be wetted with a proportional water amountcollected that is generally equal to 20 percent of times the length ofthe wall divided by the perimeter of coverage area.

Actual fire tests can also be performed in accordance with UL Standard1626 (October 2003) for each type of residential fire sprinklers. Inparticular, three tests arrangement can be utilized within a room withnominally eight feet generally horizontal or flat ceiling and simulatedfurniture so that the tested residential sprinkler can limittemperatures at four different locations to specified temperatures. Inall three test arrangements, a rectangular-shaped coverage area isprovided with first and second parallel walls whose length are longerthan third and fourth walls that extend orthogonally to each of thefirst and second walls. The third and fourth walls are each providedwith an entrance; one entrance with 35 inches of width and the otherentrance with 41 inches of width.

Two sprinklers to be tested are spaced apart over a first distance toprovide fluid distribution over the protected area. A third sprinkler tobe tested is disposed proximate the larger width opening. Simulatedfurnitures are oriented in an orthogonal configuration to generallysurround a wood crib and one corner of the protected area distal to thesmaller opening. A first thermocouple is located 0.25 inches above theceiling and 10 inches diagonally from the one corner. A secondthermocouple is located in the geometric center of the room and threeinches below the ceiling. Additional details of the test room, firesource burning characteristics, sprinkler installation and exactparameters for carrying out the fire tests are provided in UL Standard1626 (October 2003).

In the first fire testing arrangement for vertically-oriented sprinklerspendent, upright, flush, recessed pendent and concealed), a thirdthermocouple can be located three inches below the ceiling and eightinches from a first sprinkler located nearest the simulated furniture.The first sprinkler is located at a distance L from a second sprinklerso that the first sprinkler is located at one-half L from the third wallwith the smaller opening. A third sprinkler is located three feet fromthe second wall and four inches from the larger opening.

In the second fire testing arrangement for horizontally-orientedsprinklers, first and second sprinklers are mounted in the wall distalto the simulated furniture and spaced apart over a distance W so thatthe first sprinkler is nearest the smaller opening and located at adistance of one-half W to the third wall having the smaller opening. Thesecond sprinkler is about nominally eight feet from a third sprinklermounted on the wall. A third thermocouple is located directly acrossfrom the first sprinkler at a distance of one-half the width of theroom, at three inches below the ceiling and 5 feet and one-quarterinches above the floor.

In the third fire testing arrangement for horizontally-orientedsprinklers, the first and second sprinklers are mounted in the wallproximal to the simulated furniture and spaced apart over a distance Walong the wall. A third thermocouple is located in the same location asin the second testing arrangement.

In all three fire-testing arrangements, when the fire sources areignited in accordance with UL Standard 1626 (October 2003), theresidential fire sprinklers provide a predetermined water flow ratewithin fifteen seconds of actuation of at least one sprinkler over thecoverage area to limit the maximum temperature measured by the secondand third thermocouples cannot exceed 600 degrees Fahrenheit (“degreesF”). To comply with UL Standard 1626 (October 2003), the maximumtemperature measured by the third thermocouple cannot exceed 200 degreesF. and cannot exceed more than 130 degrees F. for any continuousduration of more than two minutes. To comply with UL Standard 1626(October 2003), the maximum temperature measured by the firstthermocouple cannot exceed 500 degrees F.

As can be seen above, it has been discovered that the design criteria inthe dry residential system for the protection area A of FIG. 1A is thesame design criteria for residential fire sprinklers in a wetresidential system for the protection area A of the residential unit Rof FIG. 1A. Such discovery is believed to be heretofore unknown andunexpected in the fire protection art. This discovery has allowed animplementation of a method not previously available in the art. Thismethod provides for at least the design, classification, approval, andimplementation of dry sprinkler and dry sprinkler system in residentialdwelling unit, which residential sprinkler and dry sprinkler system arebelieved to provide the same or similar protection of a wet fireprotection system without the difficulties that may be encountered witha wet system, e.g., leakage or unexpected expulsion of water from thesprinklers.

Moreover, by virtue of applicant's discovery, individuals associatedwith residential fire protection are now able to specify a designprotection area and determine at least the following design parametersfor the specified design protection area: (1) which specific sprinklersare suitable for use with the same number of sprinklers for wet or dryresidential fire sprinklers; (2) the types of ceiling consonant with thespecified sprinkler; (3) the specified coverage areas for each type ofceiling over a protection area; (4) the flow rate and residual pressurefor each specified coverage area in each type of ceiling over aprotection area; for each of wet or dry pipe systems. And theseindividuals are now able to obtain the parameters identified above in asuitable communication medium that would facilitate the design processfor these individuals. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, thecommunication media can be a computer with a graphical user interface.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a user can load a program into acommunication medium (e.g., a computer 200) that embodies appropriatecomputational engines such as, for example, the determination of the,and a database of operational characteristics of residential firesprinklers. The computer 200 would receive appropriate operationalparameters of an area to be protected for a residential application andwould provide appropriate selections (via dialogs 202, 204, 206, 208 ora menu) of residential fire sprinklers suitable for at least a dry pipesystem of such residential application. By way of example, the user canselect a menu or provide arbitrary values of an actual protection areaand various parameters of such area obstructions or ceiling offset) in adialog type entry; select the type of sprinkler (e.g., upright, pendent,sidewall, or flush pendent, flush sidewall); select the appropriatenominal rated K-factor; and select either or both wet and dry pipesystems. Once the appropriate parameters have been entered into thecomputer, the computational engines programmed into the computer arethen used to provide the user with a choice of residential firesprinklers appropriate for such design, such as, for example, theidentification of appropriate sprinklers, the number of sprinklersnecessary for both wet or dry pipe system.

The user can obtain graphical tabulations of design parameters for bothwet and dry pipe residential systems in a different communicationmedium. In a paper medium, the design parameters can be tabulated asappropriate for the type of design protection area based on any suitablelead criterion. The lead criterion is chosen to be the type of ceiling.Based on this lead criterion, the design parameters are then provided tothe user in the form of maximum coverage area; maximum spacing betweensprinklers; spacing between deflector of sprinkler to ceiling; and flowrate with residual pressure required for these design parameters. Asanother example, the lead criterion can be the type of sprinkler (e.g.,upright, pendent, sidewall) so that the appropriate tabulation of designparameters consonant with the lead criterion can be provided. Hence, thelead criterion can be selected from any of the design parameters and theappropriate design parameters consonant with the lead criterion can betabulated and provided in a suitable communication medium. Although oneelectronic communication medium has been described, other communicationmedium are also suitable, such as, for example, a voice prompt wirelesscommunication medium (e.g., cellular telephone) or voice prompttoll-free wire communication (e.g., land line telephone). Alternatively,the communication medium could be paper.

Regardless of the particularity of the communication medium, the mediumwould preferably include an identification of fire protectioninformation, such as, for example, (1) at least one type of firesprinkler for each of the plurality of protected areas; (2) a pluralityof areas to be protected in the dwelling unit, each of the plurality ofdesign protection areas having a dimension of X by Y, wherein X is anyvalue from 10 feet to 20 feet and Y is any value from 10 feet to 24feet; and (3) a plurality of minimum flow rates and residual pressuresfor a respective plurality of areas. The communication medium would alsoinclude a description of wet and dry pipe residential fire sprinklernetworks that directs a user to design a residential fire protectionsystem with the same number of the at least one residential fire in oneof wet or dry pipe system in a dwelling unit based on the identificationof fire protection information such as, for example, a calculation todetermine the quantity of residential fire sprinklers.

The identification of fire protection information can also includeinformation of protection areas in relation to at least one of thefollowing: (a) type of ceiling over the design protection area such as,for example, generally flat, sloped, or beamed ceiling; (b) spacingbetween any two of the at least one type of residential fire sprinklers;(c) rated K-factor of the at least one type of fire sprinkler such as anominal rated K-factor of 4 or 5; (d) minimum flow rate per sprinklersuch as, for example, a plurality of flow rates for a pendent typeresidential sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.9 when connected to atleast one dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of the plurality ofdesign protection areas having a variety of ceiling configurations.

As installed, suitable residential fire sprinklers described and shownherein can be coupled to a dry piping network, which are supplied with afire-fighting fluid, a water supply, after the sprinkler is activated.Preferred embodiments include residential fire sprinklers that aresuitable for use such as, for example, with a dry pipe system that isthe entire system is exposed to freezing temperatures in an unheatedportion of a building) or a wet pipe system (e.g., the sprinkler extendsinto an unheated portion of a building).

While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certainembodiments, numerous modifications, alterations, and changes to thedescribed embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere andscope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe described embodiments, but that it has the full scope defined by thelanguage of the following claims, and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of designing a dry pipe residential fireprotection system in a residential dwelling unit having a plurality ofcompartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection AssociationStandards 13, 13D, and 13R, the method comprising: determining a minimumquantity and location of residential fire sprinklers required todetermine a hydraulic demand calculation of the residential firesprinklers of a piping network filled with water and arranged to protectthe plurality of compartments, wherein the determining a minimumquantity and location includes determining a wet design area; andspecifying the minimum quantity and location of residential firesprinklers, as determined for the dry system having a dry design areathat is the same as the wet design area.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the determining includes: defining a magnitude of pressure andflow rate of a fluid supply source in the wet pipe fire sprinklersystem, wherein the flow rate includes a flow of water selected from agroup of flow rates consisting of 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 gallons per minute; and selecting residentialfire sprinklers at a nominal rated K-factor selected from a groupconsisting of 3.0, 3.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.9, 5.5 and 5.6; andwherein the specifying includes calculating the hydraulic flow rate ofthe selected residential fire sprinkler from the fluid supply source tothe selected residential fire sprinkler to determine whether theselected fire sprinkler, up to a maximum of four, within a compartmentof the residential dwelling unit, requires the highest hydraulic flowrate.
 3. A method of designing a dry pipe residential fire protectionsystem in a residential dwelling unit having a plurality of compartmentsas defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association Standard 13Dand the method comprising: determining a wet design area of a wet pipefire sprinkler system and a minimum number of residential firesprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residentialfire sprinklers up to two sprinklers within a compartment of theresidential dwelling unit for the wet system; and specifying the minimumquantity and location of residential fire sprinklers, as determined, forthe dry system having a dry design area the same as the wet design areafor the wet system, the dry system including— a water supply source toprovide sufficient water flow rate to a network of pipes so as tomaintain a preselected density under National Fire ProtectionAssociation Standard 13D for a predetermined duration; a single controlvalve; a dry pipe valve; and a network of pipes to be filled with a gaswhen the residential sprinklers are in an unactuated condition so thatthe pipes are dry.
 4. A method of designing a dry pipe residential fireprotection system in a residential dwelling unit having a plurality ofcompartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection AssociationStandards 13 and 13R, the method comprising: determining a wet designarea of a wet pipe fire sprinkler system and a minimum number ofresidential fire sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation ofall residential fire sprinklers up to four sprinklers within acompartment of the residential dwelling unit for the wet system; andspecifying the minimum quantity and location of residential firesprinklers, as determined, for the dry system having a dry design areathe same as the wet design area for the wet system, the dry systemincluding— a water supply source to provide sufficient water flow rateto a network of pipes so as to maintain a preselected density underNational Fire Protection Association Standards 13 and 13R for apredetermined duration; a single control valve; a dry pipe valve; and anetwork of pipes to be filled with a gas when the residential sprinklersare in an unactuated condition so that the pipes are dry.
 5. The methodof one of claims 1, 3 and 4, wherein the specifying comprises:identifying at least one type of residential fire sprinkler to be usedin the dwelling unit; identifying a plurality of protection areas to beprotected by the at least one type of residential fire sprinkler in thedwelling unit, each of the plurality of protection areas includes atleast one of a generally flat, sloped or beamed ceiling and has adimension of X by Y, wherein X is any value from 10 feet to 20 feet andY is any value from 10 feet to 24 feet, wherein the plurality ofprotection areas is related to at least one of the following— (a)spacing between any two of the at least one type of residential firesprinklers; (b) a type of ceiling over a protection area; (c) ratedK-factor of the at least one type of residential fire sprinkler; (d)minimum flow rate per sprinkler; (e) pressure of fluid being supplied tothe at least one type of residential fire sprinkler; and (f) temperatureat which the at least one type of residential fire sprinkler activates;and identifying a plurality of minimum flow rates and residual pressuresfor a respective one of a plurality of protection areas.
 6. The methodof claim 5, wherein the minimum flow rate comprises at least one of: (a)a plurality of flow rates for a pendent type sprinkler with a ratedK-factor of 4.9 when connected to at least one dry pipe of the networkof pipes in one of the plurality of design protection areas having ahorizontal ceiling with a maximum rise of two inches per foot of run,the plurality of flow rates including about 15 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 144, 196, or 256 square feet; about 17 gallonsper minute for a protected area of about 324 square feet; or about 20gallons per minute for a protected area of about 400 square feet; (b) aplurality of flow rates for a sidewall type sprinkler with a ratedK-factor of 4.2 when connected to at least one dry pipe of the networkof pipes in one of the plurality of protected areas, the plurality offlow rates including about at least 12 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 144 square feet; about at least 16 gallons perminute for a protected area of about 196 or 256 square feet; about atleast 19 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 288 squarefeet; or about at least 23 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 320 square feet; (c) a plurality of flow rates for a pendent typesprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.2 when connected to at least onedry pipe of the network of pipes in one of the plurality of designprotection areas having a horizontal ceiling with a maximum rise of twoinches per foot of run, the plurality of flow rates including about 13gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144, 196, or 256 squarefeet; about 18 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 324square feet; or about 22 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 400 square feet; (d) a plurality of flow rates for a pendent typesprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.2 when connected to at least onedry pipe of the network of pipes in one of the plurality of designprotection areas having a sloped ceiling with a maximum rise of eightinches per foot of run, the plurality of flow rates including about 17gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144, 196, or 256 squarefeet; about 19 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 324square feet; or about 24 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 400 square feet; and (e) a plurality of flow rates for two pendenttype sprinklers each with a rated K-factor of 4.2 when connected torespective dry pipes of the network of pipes in one of the plurality ofdesign protection areas having a sloped ceiling with a maximum rise ofeight inches per foot of run, the plurality of flow rates includingabout 14 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144, 196, or256 square feet; or about 18 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 324 square feet.
 7. A method comprising: identifying fireprotection information for a residential dwelling unit as defined in the2002 National Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R,the fire protection information including— at least one type ofresidential fire sprinkler for each of the plurality of protected areasincluding a rated K-factor for the fire sprinkler; a plurality of areasto be protected in the dwelling unit, each of the plurality ofprotection areas includes at least one of a generally flat, sloped orbeamed ceiling and has a dimension of X by Y, wherein X is any valuefrom 10 feet to 20 feet and Y is any value from 10 feet to 24 feet,wherein the plurality of protection areas is related to at least one ofthe following (a) type of ceiling over the design protection area; (b)spacing between any two of the at least one type of residential firesprinklers; (c) rated K-factor of the at least one type of residentialfire sprinkler from nominally 4 to 6; (d) minimum flow rate persprinkler; (e) pressure of fluid being supplied to the at least one typeof residential fire sprinkler; and (f) temperature at which the at leastone type of residential fire sprinkler activates; and a plurality ofminimum flow rates and residual pressures to identify a hydraulic demandfor a wet pipe system based upon hydraulic demand design criteriaincluding a wet design area for the wet system designed under guidelinesset forth by at least one of 2002 National Fire Protection AssociationStandards 13, 13D and 13R so as to define a hydraulic demand for a drypipe system configured to protect the plurality of areas, the hydraulicdemand of the dry system being the same as hydraulic demand of the wetpipe system; and directing a user to design a dry pipe residential fireprotection system having a dry design area such that the dry design areaof the dry pipe system is the same as the wet design area of the wetpipe system.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the minimum flow ratecomprises at least one of: (a) a plurality of flow rates for aresidential pendent type sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.9 whenconnected to at least one dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of theplurality of design protection areas having a horizontal ceiling with amaximum rise of two inches per foot of run, the plurality of flow ratesincluding about 15 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144,196, or 256 square feet; about 17 gallons per minute for a protectedarea of about 324 square feet; or about 20 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 400 square feet; (b) a plurality of flow ratesfor a residential sidewall type sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.2when connected to at least one dry pipe of the network of pipes in oneof the plurality of protected areas, the plurality of flow ratesincluding about at least 12 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 144 square feet; about at least 16 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 196 or 256 square feet; about at least 19gallons per minute for a protected area of about 288 square feet; orabout at least 23 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 320square feet; (c) a plurality of flow rates for a residential pendenttype sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.2 when connected to at leastone dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of the plurality of designprotection areas having a horizontal ceiling with a maximum rise of twoinches per foot of run, the plurality of flow rates including about 13gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144, 196, or 256 squarefeet; about 18 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 324square feet; or about 22 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 400 square feet; (d) a plurality of flow rates for a residentialpendent type sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.2 when connected to atleast one dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of the plurality ofdesign protection areas having a sloped ceiling with a maximum rise ofeight inches per foot of run, the plurality of flow rates includingabout 17 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144, 196, or256 square feet; about 19 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 324 square feet; or about 24 gallons per minute for a protectedarea of about 400 square feet; and (e) a plurality of flow rates for tworesidential pendent type sprinklers each with a rated K-factor of 4.2when connected to respective dry pipes of the network of pipes in one ofthe plurality of design protection areas having a sloped ceiling with amaximum rise of eight inches per foot of run, the plurality of flowrates including about 14 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 144, 196, or 256 square feet; or about 18 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 324 square feet.
 9. A process of installing adry pipe residential fire protection system in a residential dwellingunit having a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 NationalFire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R, the processcomprising: determining a dry design area of a dry pipe residential fireprotection system design including a dry hydraulic demand of the drypipe system; determining a wet design area of a wet residential fireprotection system including a wet hydraulic demand of the wet system;specifying that the dry design area of the dry pipe system is the sameas the wet design area of the wet pipe system; specifying that the dryhydraulic demand of the dry pipe system is the same as the wet hydraulicdemand of the wet system; and installing a plurality of residentialsprinklers interconnected by a network of pipes filled with a gas andconnected to a fluid supply by a control valve, the sprinklers beingspaced apart so that a plurality of hydraulically remote sprinklersdefine an actual dry hydraulic demand of the dry pipe system that is thesame as the specified dry hydraulic demand; wherein the fluid supplysatisfies the actual dry hydraulic demand within a maximum waterdelivery time of 15 seconds.
 10. The process of claim 9, whereininstalling the plurality of residential sprinklers includes installingat least one of (a) a vertically-oriented and (b) ahorizontally-oriented residential sprinkler satisfying actual fire testsin accordance with UL Standard 1626 (October 2003).
 11. The process ofclaim 9, wherein determining the wet design area includes determiningthe number and location of a plurality of listed residential sprinklersunder guidelines set forth by 2002 National Fire Protection AssociationStandards 13, 13D, and 13R, and wherein installing the plurality ofresidential sprinklers includes installing a number of dry piperesidential sprinklers that is equivalent to a number of listedresidential sprinklers of the wet system.
 12. A method of designing adry pipe residential fire protection system in a residential dwellingunit having a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 NationalFire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D and 13R, the methodcomprising: determining design parameters for a design protection areafor each of a wet residential fire protection system and the dry pipesystem based on a lead criterion, wherein the lead criterion is selectedfrom a set of design parameters including (a) a type of at least onetype of residential fire sprinkler, (b) a type of ceiling over thedesign protection area, (c) maximum coverage area, (d) maximum spacingbetween sprinklers, (e) spacing between the ceiling and a sprinklerdeflector, (f) minimum flow rate per sprinkler, (g) pressure of fluidbeing supplied to the at least one type of residential fire sprinkler,and (h) temperature at which the at least one type of residential firesprinkler activates; and specifying the design parameters of the drypipe system to be the same as the wet system.
 13. The method of claim12, wherein the at least one type of residential fire sprinkler includesat least one of: (a) a rated K-factor from nominally 4 to 6; (b) anupright residential fire sprinkler; (c) a pendent residential firesprinkler; and (d) a sidewall residential fire sprinkler; and the set ofdesign parameters for the design protection area includes at least oneof: (a) which specific sprinklers are suitable for use with anequivalent number of sprinklers for wet or dry residential firesprinklers; (b) which types of ceilings are consonant with the specifiedsprinkler; (c) specified coverage areas for each type of ceiling over aprotection area; and (d) a flow rate and residual pressure for eachspecified coverage area for each type of ceiling over a protection area;for each of the wet or dry pipe systems.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein the type of residential fire sprinkler includes at least one ofan upright residential fire sprinkler, a pendent residential firesprinkler, and a sidewall residential fire sprinkler.
 15. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: tabulating the design parameters for thedesign protection area for each of the dry pipe and wet systemsconsonant with the at least one criterion; and communicating the designparameters for the design protection area for each of the dry pipe andwet systems consonant with the at least one criterion, whereincommunicating the design parameters includes at least one of: (a) awireless electronic communication medium; (b) a hard-wired electroniccommunication medium; and (c) an indicia medium.
 16. A residentialdwelling unit fire protection system, comprising: a dry design area anda dry hydraulic demand for a dry pipe residential fire protection systemthat is the same as a wet design area and a wet hydraulic demand for awet residential fire protection system of the residential dwelling unithaving a plurality of compartments as defined under 2002 National FireProtection Association Standards 13, 13D and 13R; and a plurality ofresidential sprinklers satisfying actual fire tests in accordance withUL Standard 1626 (October 2003) with a flow rate provided within 15seconds of actuation.
 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: awater supply source; a network of pipes to be filled with a gas when theplurality of residential sprinklers is in an unactuated condition sothat the pipes are dry; and a dry pipe valve separating the network ofpipes to be filled with the gas from the water supply source; whereinthe water supply source provides the water flow rate to the network ofpipes so as to maintain a preselected density under National FireProtection Association Standards 13, 13D and 13R for a predeterminedduration.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality ofresidential sprinklers includes at least one of (a) avertically-oriented residential sprinkler and (b) ahorizontally-oriented residential sprinkler.
 19. A method of designing adry pipe residential fire protection system in a residential dwellingunit having a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 NationalFire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R, the methodcomprising: determining a minimum quantity and location of residentialfire sprinklers required to determine a hydraulic demand calculation ofthe residential fire sprinklers of a piping network filled with waterand arranged to protect the plurality of compartments, wherein thedetermining a minimum quantity and location includes determining a wetdesign area; and specifying the minimum quantity and location ofresidential fire sprinklers, as determined for the dry system having adry design area that is the same as the wet design area and a network ofpipes filled with a pressurized gas consisting of air, nitrogen or acombination thereof, the residential sprinklers each having a body withan inlet, an outlet defining a passageway between the inlet and theoutlet along a sprinkler axis, a deflector affixed to the body so as tobe spaced from and generally aligned with the outlet and the sprinkleraxis, a closure positioned proximate the outlet and a heat responsivetrigger to retain the closure proximate the outlet and occlude thepassageway so that the passageway is filled with the pressurized gaswhen the residential sprinkler is coupled to the network of pipes andthe heat responsive trigger is in an unactuated condition.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the determining includes: defining amagnitude of pressure and flow rate of a fluid supply source in the wetpipe fire sprinkler system, wherein the flow rate includes a flow ofwater selected from a group of flow rates consisting of 12, 13, 14, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 gallons per minute; andselecting residential fire sprinklers at a nominal rated K-factorselected from a group consisting of 3.0, 3.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7,4.9, 5.5 and 5.6; and wherein the specifying includes calculating thehydraulic flow rate of the selected residential fire sprinkler from thefluid supply source to the selected residential fire sprinkler todetermine whether the selected fire sprinkler, up to a maximum of four,within a compartment of the residential dwelling unit, requires thehighest hydraulic flow rate.
 21. A method of designing a dry piperesidential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit havinga plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National FireProtection Association Standard 13D, the method comprising: determininga wet design area of a wet pipe fire sprinkler system and a minimumnumber of residential fire sprinklers based on a hydraulic demandcalculation of all residential fire sprinklers up to two sprinklerswithin a compartment of the residential dwelling unit for the wetsystem; and specifying the minimum quantity and location of residentialfire sprinklers, as determined, for the dry system having a dry designarea the same as the wet design area for the wet system, the dry systemincluding—a water supply source to provide sufficient water flow rate toa network of pipes so as to maintain a preselected density underNational Fire Protection Association Standard 13D for a predeterminedduration; a single control valve; a dry pipe valve; and a network ofpipes to be filled with a pressurized gas consisting of air, nitrogen ora combination thereof when the residential sprinklers are in anunactuated condition so that the pipes are dry, the residentialsprinklers each having a body with an inlet, an outlet defining apassageway between the inlet and the outlet along a sprinkler axis, adeflector affixed to the body so as to be spaced from and generallyaligned with the outlet and the sprinkler axis, a closure positionedproximate the outlet and a heat responsive trigger to retain the closureproximate the outlet and occlude the passageway so that the passagewayis filled with the pressurized gas when the residential sprinkler iscoupled to the network of pipes and the heat responsive trigger is in anunactuated condition.
 22. A method of designing a dry pipe residentialfire protection system in a residential dwelling unit having a pluralityof compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire ProtectionAssociation Standards 13 and 13R, the method comprising: determining awet design area of a wet pipe fire sprinkler system and a minimum numberof residential fire sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculationof all residential fire sprinklers up to four sprinklers within acompartment of the residential dwelling unit for the wet system; andspecifying the minimum quantity and location of residential firesprinklers, as determined, for the dry system having a dry design areathe same as the wet design area for the wet system, the dry systemincluding—a water supply source to provide sufficient water flow rate toa network of pipes so as to maintain a preselected density underNational Fire Protection Association Standards 13 and 13R for apredetermined duration; a single control valve; a dry pipe valve; and anetwork of pipes to be filled with a pressurized gas consisting of air,nitrogen or a combination thereof when the residential sprinklers are inan unactuated condition so that the pipes are dry, the residentialsprinklers each having a body with an inlet, an outlet defining apassageway between the inlet and the outlet along a sprinkler axis, adeflector affixed to the body so as to be spaced from and generallyaligned with the outlet and the sprinkler axis, a closure positionedproximate the outlet and a heat responsive trigger to retain the closureproximate the outlet and occlude the passageway so that the passagewayis filled with the pressurized gas when the residential sprinkler iscoupled to the network of pipes and the heat responsive trigger is in anunactuated condition.
 23. The method of one of claims 19, 21 and 22,wherein the specifying comprises: identifying at least one type ofresidential fire sprinkler to be used in the dwelling unit; identifyinga plurality of protection areas to be protected by the at least one typeof residential fire sprinkler in the dwelling unit, each of theplurality of protection areas includes at least one of a generally flat,sloped or beamed ceiling and has a dimension of X by Y, wherein X is anyvalue from 10 feet to 20 feet and Y is any value from 10 feet to 24feet, wherein the plurality of protection areas is related to at leastone of the following—(a) spacing between any two of the at least onetype of residential fire sprinklers; (b) a type of ceiling over aprotection area; (c) rated K-factor of the at least one type ofresidential fire sprinkler; (d) minimum flow rate per sprinkler; (e)pressure of fluid being supplied to the at least one type of residentialfire sprinkler; and (f) temperature at which the at least one type ofresidential fire sprinkler activates; and identifying a plurality ofminimum flow rates and residual pressures for a respective one of aplurality of protection areas.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein theminimum flow rate comprises at least one of: (a) a plurality of flowrates for a pendent type sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.9 whenconnected to at least one dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of theplurality of design protection areas having a horizontal ceiling with amaximum rise of two inches per foot of run, the plurality of flow ratesincluding about 15 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144,196, or 256 square feet; about 17 gallons per minute for a protectedarea of about 324 square feet; or about 20 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 400 square feet; (b) a plurality of flow ratesfor a sidewall type sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.2 whenconnected to at least one dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of theplurality of protected areas, the plurality of flow rates includingabout at least 12 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144square feet; about at least 16 gallons per minute for a protected areaof about 196 or 256 square feet; about at least 19 gallons per minutefor a protected area of about 288 square feet; or about at least 23gallons per minute for a protected area of about 320 square feet; (c) aplurality of flow rates for a pendent type sprinkler with a ratedK-factor of 4.2 when connected to at least one dry pipe of the networkof pipes in one of the plurality of design protection areas having ahorizontal ceiling with a maximum rise of two inches per foot of run,the plurality of flow rates including about 13 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 144, 196, or 256 square feet; about 18 gallonsper minute for a protected area of about 324 square feet; or about 22gallons per minute for a protected area of about 400 square feet; (d) aplurality of flow rates for a pendent type sprinkler with a ratedK-factor of 4.2 when connected to at least one dry pipe of the networkof pipes in one of the plurality of design protection areas having asloped ceiling with a maximum rise of eight inches per foot of run, theplurality of flow rates including about 17 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 144, 196, or 256 square feet; about 19 gallonsper minute for a protected area of about 324 square feet; or about 24gallons per minute for a protected area of about 400 square feet; and(e) a plurality of flow rates for two pendent type sprinklers each witha rated K-factor of 4.2 when connected to respective dry pipes of thenetwork of pipes in one of the plurality of design protection areashaving a sloped ceiling with a maximum rise of eight inches per foot ofrun, the plurality of flow rates including about 14 gallons per minutefor a protected area of about 144, 196, or 256 square feet; or about 18gallons per minute for a protected area of about 324 square feet.
 25. Amethod comprising: identifying fire protection information for aresidential dwelling unit as defined in the 2002 National FireProtection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R, the fire protectioninformation including— at least one type of residential fire sprinklerfor each of a plurality of areas to be protected in the residentialdwelling unit, the information including a rated K-factor for the firesprinkler, each of the plurality of protection areas including at leastone of a generally flat, sloped or beamed ceiling and having a dimensionof X by Y, wherein X is any value from 10 feet to 20 feet and Y is anyvalue from 10 feet to 24 feet, wherein the plurality of protection areasis related to at least one of the following— (a) type of ceiling overthe design protection area; (b) spacing between any two of the at leastone type of residential fire sprinklers; (c) rated K-factor of the atleast one type of residential fire sprinkler from nominally 4 to 6; (d)minimum flow rate per sprinkler; (e) pressure of fluid being supplied tothe at least one type of residential fire sprinkler; and (f) temperatureat which the at least one type of residential fire sprinkler activates;and a plurality of minimum flow rates and residual pressures to identifya hydraulic demand for a wet pipe system based upon hydraulic demanddesign criteria including a wet design area for the wet system designedunder guidelines set forth by at least one of 2002 National FireProtection Association Standards 13, 13D and 13R so as to define ahydraulic demand for a dry pipe system configured to protect theplurality of areas, the hydraulic demand of the dry system being thesame as hydraulic demand of the wet pipe system; and directing a user todesign a dry pipe residential fire protection system having a dry designarea such that the dry design area of the dry pipe system is the same asthe wet design area of the wet pipe system, the dry pipe residentialfire protection system having a network of pipes filled with apressurized gas consisting of air, nitrogen or a combination thereof,the at least one residential fire sprinkler having a body with an inlet,an outlet defining a passageway between the inlet and the outlet along asprinkler axis, a deflector affixed to the body so as to be spaced fromand generally aligned with the outlet and the sprinkler axis, a closurepositioned proximate the outlet and a heat responsive trigger to retainthe closure proximate the outlet and occlude the passageway so that thepassageway is filled with the pressurized gas when the residentialsprinkler is coupled to the network of pipes and the heat responsivetrigger is in an unactuated condition.
 26. The method of claim 25,wherein the minimum flow rate comprises at least one of: (a) a pluralityof flow rates for a residential pendent type sprinkler with a ratedK-factor of 4.9 when connected to at least one dry pipe of the networkof pipes in one of the plurality of design protection areas having ahorizontal ceiling with a maximum rise of two inches per foot of run,the plurality of flow rates including about 15 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 144, 196, or 256 square feet; about 17 gallonsper minute for a protected area of about 324 square feet; or about 20gallons per minute for a protected area of about 400 square feet; (b) aplurality of flow rates for a residential sidewall type sprinkler with arated K-factor of 4.2 when connected to at least one dry pipe of thenetwork of pipes in one of the plurality of protected areas, theplurality of flow rates including about at least 12 gallons per minutefor a protected area of about 144 square feet; about at least 16 gallonsper minute for a protected area of about 196 or 256 square feet; aboutat least 19 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 288 squarefeet; or about at least 23 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 320 square feet; (c) a plurality of flow rates for a residentialpendent type sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.2 when connected to atleast one dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of the plurality ofdesign protection areas having a horizontal ceiling with a maximum riseof two inches per foot of run, the plurality of flow rates includingabout 13 gallons per minute for a protected area of about 144, 196, or256 square feet; about 18 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 324 square feet; or about 22 gallons per minute for a protectedarea of about 400 square feet; (d) a plurality of flow rates for aresidential pendent type sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.2 whenconnected to at least one dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of theplurality of design protection areas having a sloped ceiling with amaximum rise of eight inches per foot of run, the plurality of flowrates including about 17 gallons per minute for a protected area ofabout 144, 196, or 256 square feet; about 19 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 324 square feet; or about 24 gallons per minutefor a protected area of about 400 square feet; and (e) a plurality offlow rates for two residential pendent type sprinklers each with a ratedK-factor of 4.2 when connected to respective dry pipes of the network ofpipes in one of the plurality of design protection areas having a slopedceiling with a maximum rise of eight inches per foot of run, theplurality of flow rates including about 14 gallons per minute for aprotected area of about 144, 196, or 256 square feet; or about 18gallons per minute for a protected area of about 324 square feet.
 27. Aprocess of installing a dry pipe residential fire protection system in aresidential dwelling unit having a plurality of compartments as definedin the 2002 National Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and13R, the process comprising: determining a dry design area of a dry piperesidential fire protection system design including a dry hydraulicdemand of the dry pipe system; determining a wet design area of a wetresidential fire protection system including a wet hydraulic demand ofthe wet system; specifying that the dry design area of the dry pipesystem is the same as the wet design area of the wet pipe system;specifying that the dry hydraulic demand of the dry pipe system is thesame as the wet hydraulic demand of the wet system; and installing aplurality of residential sprinklers interconnected by a network of pipesfilled with a pressurized gas consisting of air, nitrogen or acombination thereof when the residential sprinklers are in an unactuatedcondition, the residential sprinklers each having a body with an inlet,an outlet defining a passageway between the inlet and the outlet along asprinkler axis, a deflector affixed to the body so as to be spaced fromand generally aligned with the outlet and the sprinkler axis, a closurepositioned proximate the outlet and a heat responsive trigger to retainthe closure proximate the outlet and occlude the passageway so that thepassageway is filled with the pressurized gas when the residentialsprinkler is coupled to the network of pipes and the heat responsivetrigger is in an unactuated condition, the network of pipes beingconnected to a fluid supply by a control valve, the sprinklers beingspaced apart so that a plurality of hydraulically remote sprinklersdefine an actual dry hydraulic demand of the dry pipe system that is thesame as the specified dry hydraulic demand; wherein the fluid supplysatisfies the actual dry hydraulic demand within a maximum waterdelivery time of 15 seconds.
 28. The process of claim 27, whereininstalling the plurality of residential sprinklers includes installingat least one of (a) a vertically-oriented and (b) ahorizontally-oriented residential sprinkler satisfying actual fire testsin accordance with UL Standard 1626 (October 2003).
 29. The process ofclaim 27, wherein determining the wet design area includes determiningthe number and location of a plurality of listed residential sprinklersunder guidelines set forth by 2002 National Fire Protection AssociationStandards 13, 13D, and 13R, and wherein installing the plurality ofresidential sprinklers includes installing a number of dry piperesidential sprinklers that is equivalent to a number of listedresidential sprinklers of the wet system.
 30. A method of designing adry pipe residential fire protection system in a residential dwellingunit having a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 NationalFire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D and 13R, the methodcomprising: determining design parameters for a design protection areafor each of a wet residential fire protection system and the dry pipesystem based on a lead criterion, wherein the lead criterion is selectedfrom a set of design parameters including (a) a type of at least onetype of residential fire sprinkler, (b) a type of ceiling over thedesign protection area, (c) maximum coverage area, (d) maximum spacingbetween sprinklers, (e) spacing between the ceiling and a sprinklerdeflector, (f) minimum flow rate per sprinkler, (g) pressure of fluidbeing supplied to the at least one type of residential fire sprinkler,and (h) temperature at which the at least one type of residential firesprinkler activates; and specifying the design parameters of the drypipe system to be the same as the wet system, the at least one type ofresidential sprinkler to be coupled to a network of pipes filled with apressurized gas consisting of air, nitrogen or a combination thereof,the residential sprinkler having a body with an inlet, an outletdefining a passageway between the inlet and the outlet along a sprinkleraxis, a deflector affixed to the body so as to be spaced from andgenerally aligned with the outlet and the sprinkler axis, a closurepositioned proximate the outlet and a heat responsive trigger to retainthe closure proximate the outlet and occlude the passageway so that thepassageway is filled with the pressurized gas when the residentialsprinkler is coupled to the network of pipes and the heat responsivetrigger is in an unactuated condition.
 31. The method of claim 30,wherein the at least one type of residential fire sprinkler includes atleast one of: (a) a rated K-factor from nominally 4 to 6; (b) an uprightresidential fire sprinkler; (c) a pendent residential fire sprinkler;and (d) a sidewall residential fire sprinkler; and the set of designparameters for the design protection area includes at least one of: (a)which specific sprinklers are suitable for use with an equivalent numberof sprinklers for wet or dry residential fire sprinklers; (b) whichtypes of ceilings are consonant with the specified sprinkler; (c)specified coverage areas for each type of ceiling over a protectionarea; and (d) a flow rate and residual pressure for each specifiedcoverage area for each type of ceiling over a protection area; for eachof the wet or dry pipe systems.
 32. The method of claim 30, wherein thetype of residential fire sprinkler includes at least one of an uprightresidential fire sprinkler, a pendent residential fire sprinkler, and asidewall residential fire sprinkler.
 33. The method of claim 30, furthercomprising: tabulating the design parameters for the design protectionarea for each of the dry pipe and wet systems consonant with the atleast one criterion; and communicating the design parameters for thedesign protection area for each of the dry pipe and wet systemsconsonant with the at least one criterion, wherein communicating thedesign parameters includes at least one of: (a) a wireless electroniccommunication medium; (b) a hard-wired electronic communication medium;and (c) an indicia medium.
 34. A residential dwelling unit fireprotection system, comprising: a dry design area and a dry hydraulicdemand for a dry pipe residential fire protection system that is thesame as a wet design area and a wet hydraulic demand for a wetresidential fire protection system of the residential dwelling unithaving a plurality of compartments as defined under 2002 National FireProtection Association Standards 13, 13D and 13R; a network of pipesfilled with a pressurized gas consisting of air, nitrogen or acombination thereof; and a plurality of residential sprinklerssatisfying actual fire tests in accordance with UL Standard 1626(October 2003) with a flow rate provided within 15 seconds of actuation,the residential sprinklers each having a body with an inlet, an outletdefining a passageway between the inlet and the outlet along a sprinkleraxis, a deflector affixed to the body so as to be spaced from andgenerally aligned with the outlet and the sprinkler axis, a closurepositioned proximate the outlet and a heat responsive trigger to retainthe closure proximate the outlet and occlude the passageway so that thepassageway is filled with the pressurized gas when the residentialsprinkler is coupled to the network of pipes and the heat responsivetrigger is in an unactuated condition.
 35. The system of claim 34,further comprising: a water supply source; and a dry pipe valveseparating the network of pipes from the water supply source; whereinthe water supply source provides the water flow rate to the network ofpipes so as to maintain a preselected density under National FireProtection Association Standards 13, 13D and 13R for a predeterminedduration.
 36. The system of claim 34, wherein the plurality ofresidential sprinklers includes at least one of (a) avertically-oriented residential sprinkler and (b) ahorizontally-oriented residential sprinkler.